Talent

0.000

Pape Demba “Paco” Samb

Biography

Pape Demba “Paco” Samb is a Senegalese-American griot, hand drummer, storyteller, and educator of Wolof ancestry.[1] Based in the United States, he performs throughout the country and has been described by the Delaware government as an “internationally acclaimed artist.”[2] Paco has performed with musicians of Senegal and the Gambia including Laba Sosseh, Musa Ngum, and Bala Sidibé. Aside from performing, he leads drumming classes, workshops,[3] and McDaniel College’s Student African Drum Ensemble.[4][5][6][7][8] Paco has stated his belief in his ability to instruct those “who have never touched a drum before.” Paco plays both traditional and contemporary Senegalese music[10] as well as “reggae, rap, funk, jazz, pop and a variety of other styles.” His own band, the Super Ngewel Ensemble,[6] “performs traditional Senegalese rhythms on authentic handmade instruments while incorporating dance and storytelling.” Pape Demba Samb was born in 1976 in Dakar, Senegal.[13] He was born into the Samb griot family, who “have been the keepers of the ancestral history, stories, and music of his native Wolof peoples in Senegal for hundreds of years.”[3] His entire family is skilled in dance, drumming, singing, and storytelling.[3] He began playing djembe when he was 7 years old[9] and did not have a formal education in his youth. In an unknown year, he married Karen Rege.[14] As of 2023, Paco lives in Wilmington, Delaware. Circa 2013, Samb drummed in charity concerts for SOS Children’s Villages in Chicago.[16] The following year, Samb released his first album.

News / Ranking / Titbits / Awards

An internationally acclaimed artist, Paco has performed with many major musicians based in Senegal and the Gambia including Senemaio, Ballet Gorgoru, Dormu Africa, Ballet Ngangan, African Ballet, Katchikaly, Youssou N’Dour Cultural Group, Marie Samuel N’Diaye Group, Batin Band, Laba Sosseh, Moussa Ngom, and Bala Sidibé

Talent

Pape Demba “Paco” Samb

Biography

News / Ranking / Titbits / Awards

Interested in this talent?

Our Partner and Supporter